Playing in what is arguably the toughest division–from top to bottom–in the Central Coast Section certainly has its drawbacks for the baseball teams in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League … namely, facing a tough opponent in every game.

In the end, though, it also has its rewards.

The regular season may have ended last week, but six of the eight clubs in the Mt. Hamilton circuit will play on in the Central Coast Section playoffs.

League champion Westmont earned a berth in the CCS Open Division with runner-up Leland joined by Leigh, Lincoln, Willow Glen and Branham in the CCS Division I tourney.

All six clubs were scheduled to take the diamond earlier this week for their CCS openers.

Westmont, the No. 6 seed in the Open playoffs, was to take its 22-7 overall record up against No. 11 Bellarmine (18-9) with the winner to advance to the quarter-final round on Saturday against the No. 3 Santa Teresa (21-4-1)-No. 14 Terra Nova (13-11-1) winner at a time and site yet to be determined (for the latest playoff information, visit cifccs.org).

Leland, 18-8 this season, enters the postseason as the No. 1 seed in Division I and was to open against No. 16 Oak Grove (14-9-1) on Wednesday with the victor to advance to a Saturday game against the No. 8 Woodside (15-10-1)-No. 9 Branham (17-11) first-round winner.

No. 2 Willow Glen (19-7) was to face No. 15 Monta Vista (16-11) with the survivor of that game to face the No. 7 Sequoia (19-9)-No. 10 Leigh (14-13) winner this weekend.

No. 13 Lincoln (16-10) was to open at No. 4 Wilcox (16-11), the winner playing Saturday against the No. 5 Mountain View (18-8-1)-No. 12 San Mateo (25-2) winner.

Baseball semifinals will be played on May 24, 25 and 26 with the championship games set for May 28.

Compounding the 49ers’ 0-3 start is that their past two defeats have come against NFC West rivals. Up next is another division opponent Sunday, when the 49ers visit the Arizona Cardinals. Here are some answers to pressing questions: Did Hoyers second half performance save him from a benching this season? — Far Side of Sports (@FarSideOfSports) September 25, 2017 At...